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21 November: what is celebrated today
On 21 November, the calendar becomes a mirror of the world: a mosaic of causes, ideas and gestures that speak of communication, health, sustainability and beauty. From television to the sea, from the everyday greeting to medical science or fashion, this day reflects our complex way of being on the planet. It is a date that brings together screens, networks, hands, fabrics and consciences, reminding us that every action—however small it may seem—can change the course of humanity.
World Television Day
In 1996, the UN established this day to celebrate the power of television as a tool for dialogue and education. Although screens have multiplied, its essential function remains: to bring stories closer, inform, connect. Today's television is no longer a piece of furniture in the living room, but a mobile window onto the world, an invitation to build more responsible and critical communication.
World Hello Day
A gesture as simple as saying “hello” can be a revolutionary act. Created in 1973 by two American brothers in the midst of the Arab-Israeli war, this day was born to defend peace through courtesy. In times of digital isolation, greeting remains the first bridge: a reminder that respect and empathy begin with a kind word.
World Fisheries Day
The FAO proclaimed this day in 1998 to pay tribute to fishing communities and warn of the urgency of protecting the oceans. Fishing is livelihood and culture, but it is also an activity threatened by overexploitation. Caring for the sea is caring for life itself. The day advocates sustainable fishing, fairness and balance between people and water.
World Vasectomy Day
Since 2013, this date has sought to break taboos around a safe medical procedure that symbolises shared responsibility in family planning. Talking about vasectomy is talking about shared responsibility, about men who choose to care rather than impose. The observance transforms the notion of masculinity and promotes sexual health free from prejudice.
International Spina Bifida Day
Every year, 21 November invites us to raise awareness of this congenital malformation, which can be prevented by an action as simple as consuming folic acid. The day appeals for health education and empathy with people living with disabilities. Behind every public-health campaign beats a lesson in humanity and prevention.
World Dress Day
The dress, more than a garment, is a textile memory of the body and time. From prehistoric skins to Chanel haute couture, the dress has told stories of identity, class and freedom. Celebrating its day pays tribute to creativity, femininity in all its forms and fashion as a universal language.
European Week for Waste Reduction
From 16 to 24 November, Europe raises its green voice. This week invites us to reflect on excess, to reuse and repair before discarding. In times of accelerated consumption, true elegance lies in restraint and imagination: turning waste into resources, habits into awareness.
World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week
Since 2015, the WHO has warned us about an invisible enemy: bacteria that no longer respond to treatment. Its motto — Educate. Raise awareness. Act now — is an urgent call to doctors, governments and citizens. Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat that requires cooperation and prudence: without pharmaceutical responsibility, the future becomes fragile.
World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Week
Although it shares the cause of the previous one, this specific version of the campaign emphasises the joint work of human, animal and environmental health under the “One Health” approach. AMR reminds us that life on Earth is interconnected and that every antibiotic used lightly leaves a mark that reaches us all.
Sugar Awareness Week
Sugar, a source of pleasure and risk, has its week for reflection. Since 2021, this global initiative has sought to reduce its consumption and warn of the harm caused by excess. It is not about banning sweet things, but about savouring them consciously. At the table, as in life, balance is the purest form of health.
Global Entrepreneurship Week
In more than 170 countries, imagination in action is celebrated. Global Entrepreneurship Week recognises those who create, take risks and transform their surroundings. Every new idea, every small business or social project, is a spark of change. The entrepreneurial spirit not only drives the economy: it sustains hope.